the cheese thing...

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

Am 9 weeks pregnant, on holiday in France and surrounded by everything I can't have. Are you supposed to stay completely away from unpasteurised cheese (like chevre - I'm surprisingly ok without the wine but the chevre is killing me!), or is it one of those things you can have a tiny smidgen of without it being harmful?

Fearing the former but thought I'd double check!

[FluffyDonkey]

I live in France and dr's/midwives, everyone really has said no unpateurised cheeses, unless it's cooked (for example on pizza).

If ever you really really can't resist, I was told to buy it in the supermarket - not in the deli part but the branded, industrial, packaged stuff as it's more safe. Definately not from a little cheese shop.

Sorry!

[ButterflySally]

Chevre is definitely on the 'no' list, I'm afraid. It's not dependent on portion size either - even a small amount harbours the risk of listeria.

Sorry...I feel your pain. Can't wait until I am once again able to tuck into a huge portion of stinking blue cheese washed down with a large glass of full-bodied red wine!

[Isntitironic]

Feeling the pain - 17 weeks and all I can think about atm is goats' cheese, pate and red wine! Don't know if you'd be able to get anything like it in France, but at the weekend I found an organic goats' cheese (Biona) that's made with pasteurised milk. Wasn't quite what I was craving, but it hit the spot nonetheless.

[LizzyMathsWhizzy]

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/may/29/health.medicineandhealth

This shows that the evidence is limited on the damage these cheeses can do. I'm eating more or less what I want after reading this article and discussing it with my midwife. I guess its down to personal choice how literally you want to take the advice.

[spatchcock]

I'm with Lizzy. Am off to Paris this weekend and planning to stuff myself with may have the odd piece of cheese.